Overshoe with heel grip



March 4, 1958 P. .l. HlNEs ovERsHoE WITH' HEEL GRIP Filed May 5. 1955 K INVENTOR.4

P575? dwf/V f//A/J ATTURNEY lilnited States Patent O ovnnsnon WITH HEEL VGRIP Peter .1. Hines, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y.a corporation of New Jersey Application May 3, 1955, Serial No. 505,728

1 Claim. (01.36-58.15)

This invention relates to an overshoe having an -improve-d heel grip adapted to resist forces, such vas the holding forces of mud and the like, which act to pull the overshoe ott the shoe worn underneath when a person walks.

Heretofore, metal heel grips have been attached to the baci; of the overshoe upper. They were made of spring metal and were provided with inwardly extending lips which engage the top extended edge of the heel of the shoe `over which the overshoe was worn. The engagement of the lip against the top extended edge of the heel of the shoe was `designed to retain :the overshoe on the shoe.

Such prior heel grips were objectionable because they were difficult to release from the heel of the shoe to permit the intentional removal of the overshoe, and they scratched the shoes over which they were worn. Furthermore, such heel grips being attached to lthe uppers after the overshoes were built, they presented an unattractive appearance, and sometimes they were uncomfortable to the foot of the wearer.

1n accordance with the present invention, the heel grip is built into the back of the upper as an integral part of the `overshhoe While the latter is being constructed. The heel grip is made of soft, elastic, deformable rubber and it preferably engages the top extended edge of the shoe heel, but in the event the heel grip fails to engage such such edge, its engagement with other portions of the shoe creates effective binding forces between the shoe and the Iovershoe to retain vthe overshoe in place. The heel grip made of such rubber has the further advantage of not scratching the shoe underneath. The rubber of the heel grip is sufliciently firm to provide a firm abutment to resist the passage of the heel grip over the extended :top edge of the heel of the shoe after it has been seated against such edge. Since the heel grip is built into the overshoe' upper, it does not alter the usual appearance of the overshoe, and the grip is also comfortable due to its resilient soft elastic character.

The improved overshoe containing the heel grip, the foregoing objects and advantages, and the method of making the overshoe are further described in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l Iis a side elevation of v'an overshoe embodying this invention, in which the heel, or quarter part of the upper, is broken away to show the cooperation of the improved heel grip with the heel of the shoe on the inside of the overshoe;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section of the overshoe shown in Fig. 1 and taken on line 2--2 thereof with the shoe removed;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged vertical longitudinal cross section of the heel portion of the -overshoe :taken on` line 3-3 of Fig.2, but shown on a building last; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section of a modified form of a heel grip showing portions of the overshoe corresponding to similar portions in Fig. 3.

The invention is described in reference to a storm over- 2,825,155 y lateuted Mar. Yt1, ,195.8

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shoe 10 shown in the several tgure's of thedrawings, but-it will be understood that the invention fis applicable vto the lower .shell type of yovershoe and high overshoes as well. kThe overshoe ,may `be made of rubber, or rubber compositions or rubber like materials, which may be combined with fabric in accordance with the usual practice, and wherever rubber Yis used .herein yit shall include rubber compositions and .rubber like materials. The overshoe 10 is made in accordance with conventional practice, excepting for the construction of the heel grip 11, which is builtinto the back.12 of the `overshoe upper 13, as =an,integral part thereof. As shown in ,.Fig. 1, the heel grip 11 engages the ,top extended edge -14 of the shoe heel `15, which 4is attachedto the upper 1 6 of the -shoe 17, over which `the overshoe 10 is worn.

The details of :the heel Agrip 11, and the method of building it into the overshoe 10 are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The heel grip 11 is made of a ridge of rubber 18 4having a Wedge shaped transverse cross section. The apex 19 of the ridge 18 projects inwardly from the back 12 of thev overshoe upper. The apex 19 is preferably located at a height above the heel sea-t 2010 cause it to extend into the groove of the shoe 17 between the extended top edge 14 of the Ifeel 15 and the upper 16 of the shoe 17, so as to retain the overshoe 10 on the shoe. However, it -is not necessary for the apex 19 to extend into the groove, because the extending grip 11 creates eiective pressure on other portions of the shoe to retain the overshoe in place inthe event the apex fails to engage such groove. The heel grip 11 is located at the center of the back 12 of the upper, and it is preferably bisected by the longitudinal center line 21 of the overshoe, and it is located substantially in a plane, which extends parallel to the plane of the heel seat 20. The base 22 of the heel grip 11 is provided with a flange 23 on each side thereof, which is bonded to the back 12 of the overshoe upper.

A strip Vof reinforcing fabric 24 reinforces fthe base 22 of the heel grip 11 and the margin of a slot 25 in the fabric lining 26 of the overshoe through which the apex 19 ofthe heel grip 11 projects. The quarter 12 of the upper of the overshoe may consist of one or more layers 27 and 28 of rubber which back up the base 22 of the heel grip.

Excepting for the construction of the heel grip 11, the overshoe 10 is built up on a last 29 (Fig. 3) in accordance with the usual practice. For the purpose of building the heel grip 11 into the overshoe 10, the last 29 is provided with a groove 30 which extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the heel seat surface 31 of the last. The insole 32 and the fabric lining 26 of the overshoe are assembled on the last 29 vin accordance with the usual practice. The slot 25 is then cut in the lining ..26 along a line extending opposite to the bottom of the groove 30 for a distance to each side of the center line 21 of the overshoe required to receive the pro* jecting portion of the heel grip 11. The apex 19 of the unvulcanized ridge 18 of vulcanizable rubber is then inserted through the slot 25 until the flange 23 on its base 22 is pressed up against the back side of the fabric lining 26 in the area around the margin of the slot 25. The strip of reinforcing fabric 24 is then placed over the base 22 of the unvulcanized ridge of rubber 18. The strip of fabric 24 extends longitudinally of the slot 25, and is of sufficient width .to extend over the margin of the -slot so as to reinforce the area around the slot and the base v22 of the heel grip 11. The conventional layers 27, 28 of vulcanizable rubber are then applied, and the outsole and heel 33 is affixed in the conventional manner. All such overshoe parts are adhered together by the natural tack of the rubber, or with cement in accordance with the usual practice. The overshoe is then vulcanized in' 'accordance with` conventional methods. After vulcanization', the heel grip 11 preferably has a Shore A durometer hardness of about 70 to 80.

A modified form of the heel gril 11 is shown in Fig. 4. The back '12 is provided with parts similar to the parts shown in F-igs. l'to 3, comprising a fabric lining 26', layers of rubber 2 7' and 28. The inner layer of rubber 27 is positioned adjacent to the base y22' of the heel grip 11', and a frictioned strip of fabric 24 is interposed between the layers 27 and 28.

While two forms of the invention have been shown and described herein in detail, it will be understood that changes may be made therein without departing from `the spirit `of the invention and it is intended to cover such changes as fall within the scopeA of the claim.

* Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

An overshoewhaving ajheel grip built therein comprising a ridge of rubber projecting `inwardlyfrom the back only of the quarter portion of the upper of greatest curvature, the back of said upper comprising a fabric lining, a slot in said` lining above and extending substantially parallel to the heel seat surface of said overshoe -Io each side of the center 'of the back of said upper, said .ridge of rubber having a coextensive sharp apex projecting through said slot and presenting an exposed rubber surface, said ridge having a base and a liange of rubbei' on each side thereof extending along said slot land in rear of the margin thereof, said base and flanges being bonded -to a layer of rubber in rear thereof and reinforced by :t s'tripof fabric laid in behind said base and anges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 422,492 Benedict Mar. 4, 189() 477,851 Saunders June 28, 1892 867,882 Hood Oct. 8, 1907 1,966,179 Lesch July 10, 1934 2,787,063 Austin Apr. 2, 1957 

